Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Obama Condemns Libya Attack, Romney Says Administration "Disgraceful"

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Yesterday, four Americans were killed after an attack on the U.S.
diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya. Ambassador Chris Stevens and Foreign
Service Officer Sean Smith were among those killed. The other two names are being withheld pending next-of-kin notification.

This morning, President Obama condemned that attack, which he called "outrageous and shocking" in a statement from the Rose Garden.

"We're working with the government of Libya to secure our diplomats,"
he said. "I've also directed my Administration to increase our security
at diplomatic posts around the world. And make no mistake, we will work
with the Libyan government to bring to justice the killers who attacked
our people."

Ambassador Stevens had a history of dedicated service in Libya, and as
he spoke to reporters, the President described the work to which Stevens
devoted his.

"At the height of the Libyan revolution, Chris led our diplomatic post
in Benghazi," President Obama said. "With characteristic skill, courage,
and resolve, he built partnerships with Libyan revolutionaries, and
helped them as they planned to build a new Libya. When the Qaddafi
regime came to an end, Chris was there to serve as our ambassador to the
new Libya, and he worked tirelessly to support this young democracy,
and I think both Secretary Clinton and I relied deeply on his knowledge
of the situation on the ground there."

As the President spoke, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was standing
by his side. Afterward, the two left the White House to visit the State
Department, where the President planned to reiterate again his
solidarity with America's diplomats stationed around the world.

President Obama has also issued a proclamation ordering U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff to honor the victims of the attack in Libya.

However, Mitt Romney was critical of the Obama Administration's handling of the attack last night.

"I'm
outraged by the attacks on American diplomatic missions in Libya and
Egypt and by the death of an American consulate worker in Benghazi," said Romney in a statement. "It's
disgraceful that the Obama Administration's first response was not to
condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those
who waged the attacks.